Automation and motion control system

• US 9,429,926 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Love, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anya, Charles E
• Application Number:
  US14/279,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2664 Audio light, animation, stage, theatre light
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

An automation and motion control system for the entertainment industry is used to dynamically respond to random or unknown inputs as well as known inputs and to coordinate the movement and operation of the objects, such as theatrical props, cameras, stunt persons, lighting, scenery, drapery, kinetic art sculptures, moving displays or other similar types of devices or items, on a large scale.

Claims

1. An automation and motion control system for the entertainment industry to dynamically control a plurality of objects, the automation and motion control system comprising:

a plurality of nodes in communication with each other over a network, wherein each node of the plurality of nodes corresponds to at least one item of equipment used to a control an object of the plurality of objects, wherein each node of the plurality of nodes comprising a microprocessor and a memory device, wherein the memory device comprise node processes and at least one process executable by the microprocessor, and

wherein the memory device store program instructions that are executable by the microprocessor to;

determine whether an input has been received at a node the plurality of nodes of the automation and control system,

in response to the determination, determine, by the node, whether the received input is expected,

in response to the input being expected, execute an associated process or processes of the node processes,

otherwise, classify the received input as a random input, wherein the random input does not satisfy a specification of a pending process,

identify, by the node, at least one process of the node processes associated with the random of the input, and

execute, by the node, the identified at least one process to adapt the operation of the automation and motion control system to the random input.

2. A computer implemented method of controlling plurality of objects in an automation and motion control system for the entertainment industry, the method comprising:

determining whether an input has been received at a node of the automation and control system, the node comprising a microprocessor and a memory device;

in response to the determination, determining, by the node, whether the received input is expected;

in response to the input being expected, executing an associated process or processes;

otherwise, classifying the received input as a random input, wherein the random input does not satisfy a specification of a pending process;

identifying, by the node, at least one process of the node associated with the random input; and

executing, by the node, the identified at least one process to adapt the operation of the automation and motion control system to the random input.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 further comprising scanning for an input at the node.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein the received input is from another node or entered by an operator.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein said executing, by the node, the identified at least one process comprises providing at least one control instruction to an item of equipment or machinery associated with the node.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein said executing, by the node, the identified at least one process comprises activating or deactivating one or more separate processes of the node.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein said executing, by the node, the identified at least one process comprises activating or deactivating one or more separate nodes.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein said executing, by the node, the identified at least one process comprises enabling the at least one process to accept at least one of new or additional inputs.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein said executing, by the node, the identified at least one process comprises modifying the operation of the at least one process.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein said executing, by the node, the identified at least one process comprises notifying one or more separate nodes of the actions taken by the node and taking at least one action or response at the one or more separate nodes.